Earning $3.7 billion worldwide to date, with both the latest two movies in the series — "Transformers: Dark Of The Moon" and "Transformers: Age Of Extinction" — taking in over a $1 billion worldwide each, there is not doubt that the toy franchise is not only alive, but healthier than it has ever been. Critics may not like it, but audiences (particularly internationally), really, really do. And Paramount wants more, but one movie every few years isn’t going to cut it in an era when rival studios like Marvel are dropping a couple of films annually, and have already expanded to streaming services and television. So they are going to pick up the pace.
Deadline reports that the studio has tapped Akiva Goldsman — whose blockbuster cred includes "Jonah Hex," "Batman & Robin," and "Batman Forever" — to assemble a "writer’s room" or essentially a brain trust to develop spinoffs, a potential multi-part "Transformers" sequel (everybody’s doing it!), and more ideas on extending the brand cinematically. And, well, obviously. This is easily Paramount’s most valuable franchise brand so they want to keep it going in as many ways possible. A Marvel-style universe? You can bet they’re going to talk about it because that’s the model everyone wants these days.
Goldsman won’t be writing any scripts, but will be tasked with bringing in recruits, while the trade suggests that Michael Bay seems to be involved at the very least on a producing level, and will have some kind of input as well.
Bottom line? Autobots and Decepticons are going to be coming faster and harder for years to come. Get ready.
